A car called the Toyota Altezza (Lexus IS300) came out in the US in 2001, and it had a unique tail light: chrome rings with colored lenses and indicators, inside a larger clear plastic lens. This 3-D design was really eye-catching and people were attracted to it.

Toyota did a great job making this light. Other automotive companies copied it, and the popularity of the design grew and grew. The "Fast and Furious" crowd couldn't get enough of the Altezza style tail lights!

Over time, the Altezza design was copied and implemented onto virtually EVERY CAR. You could literally search for the model of your car, and "altezza" and get pages of seedy websites that sell "Altezza" lights for your car.

America got hooked. Many people bought Altezzas thinking it would give their car a "Tight Style" or "Many Many Features", thinking that it would make their car "Unique" and giving their car an "Individuality". Some thought it would give them "Up to 20 horsepower at the wheels!" Have you ever been down in Atlanta or Orlando? Everyone and their Grandma had Altezzas. "there m4d tyte y0!"

It's not because aftermarket Altezzas are impractical, not DOT legal, or have horrible light output, its not because they are cheaply made, or wired improperly, and its not because they fit horribly and attract cops, it's because they are really really UGLY.

STOP BUYING THEM!

Try spending your money on something else, like getting that door, fender or bumper painted to the RIGHT color. Sheesh.

Guy 1: What is that ugly thing on the back of that car?
Guy 2: It is an altezza light.
Guy 1: Altezzas are GAY!

2) A style of lights, usually clear with a red circular braking/parking light in the center, and signal/reverse marker at the bottom. It is the stock light of the Toyota Altezza/Lexus IS, and variations of this light are usually put onto even cheaper cars, such as the Civic and Chevy Cavalier, by Ricers.

1) The Toyota Altezza is the cheapest car in the Lexus brand in America. In Japan, it is considered the upper-part of the Toyota economy class cars.

The Urban Dictionary T-Shirt

A type of automotive tail light that usually consists of a clear main lens, and one or more red round lenses. They are named after the Toyota Altezza, which has those lights from the factory. Often used by Import's and Lowriders. They are very played out, and make cars look like crap.